The Foreign Service Journal, December 2008

The Clinton administration had an opening and the inclination to define a new strategic cooperative framework for U.S. policy. That most popular of presidents could have sold to the American people a new approach that would take us beyond Cold War thinking. But sadly, despite his early appeal for “assertive multilateralism,” he miss- ed that chance. The Bush administration ap- proached the world by trying to recreate a new type of ColdWar —one based on fear, mil- itary might and alliances only with those who are “with us.” After 9/11, the administration tried to foment a new ideo- logical struggle mimicking the struggle against commu- nism, with a “war on terrorism” fought between the “good” democracies and “bad” non-democracies and radical Islamists as the basis of policy and action. The “axis of evil” is the best-known metaphor for that mentality. This yearning to return to a more defined, Manichean world has been palpable and has even led to a renewal of a quasi–Cold War with Russia. The determined efforts to demonize states that oppose our policies, while building alliances with those of whatever stripe who agree with us, remind us of the simplistic notions that led us astray dur- ing that earlier conflict. The U.S. has ignored opportuni- ties for political persuasion and diplomacy that are made possible by diverse national behavior and the potential for dividing our enemies and expanding the number of friends we have around the world. As we approach a new era in our political leadership, the United States will have another opportunity to move with affirmation and hard thinking to an alternative approach to our role in the world. We need to rethink current policies and assumptions about the nature of U.S. power and how our government might best deal with the problems and opportunities global- ization presents, as well as the loom- ing threats from climate change, nuclear proliferation and terrorist groups. Yet Barack Obama’s administra- tion needs to show caution and steadiness in bringing the Ameri- can people and Congress into an era of greater multilateral diploma- cy. Most of the world is waiting for U.S. leadership based on mutual respect and cooperation, not on bluster and unilateralism. But at least half of the American people, and probably a majority of Congress, are not ready for any significant shift from the American exceptionalist approach. Furthermore, most Americans are not prepared for their government to undertake greater international coop- eration to meet the new challenges. Many people, along with their elected representatives, ask why the U.S. must “ask permission” to use military force. Don’t treaty com- mitments limit U.S. sovereignty and the right to do what we want? Aren’t international organizations anti- American, ineffective and without teeth? Symbol for a New Era Here is where presidential leadership comes in. With a bold, persuasive and knowledgeable approach — sensi- tive to American skepticism — the United States can become the yearned-for nation prepared to guide the world in this new, treacherous era, one that is very differ- ent from the Cold War and little given to American solip- sism, arrogance and belief in military might as the definer of power. If this new leadership of the U.S. government is to be successful, it must begin positively and patiently to change the way it deals with international organizations. One of the most challenging yet also rewarding part- ners for the United States in building a new, more coop- erative approach to world problems would be the United Nations and its various agencies. But this will require a new willingness on the part of Washington to negotiate, sign and ratify international treaties and legal agree- ments, and reduce its inclination to approach every inter- national action only in terms of American sovereignty. Such changes will not come easily at home and might even be seen as anti-American. But without them, the F O C U S 16 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8 The new administration will need to move carefully to bring the American people and Congress into an era of greater multilateral diplomacy. During his 31-year career in the Foreign Service, William H. Luers served as ambassador to Czechoslova- kia (1983-1986) and Venezuela (1978-1982), and as a deputy assistant secretary of State for Europe (1977- 1978) and for Inter-American affairs (1975-1977), among many other postings. Ambassador Luers has been the president of the United Nations Association of the USA since 1999.